Charlie Stevens: Top cop dad’s heartbreaking tribute to his ‘precious, wonderful’ son, 18, who was killed in Schoolies crash – as he farewells his boy at packed funeral with a powerful message

The parents of murdered teenager Charlie Stevens have paid tribute to their ‘unique’ and ‘sassy’ son at an emotional and busy ceremony at Adelaide Oval.

Charlie – the son of South Australian Police Deputy Commissioner Grant Stevens – was killed in an alleged collision while celebrating Schoolies earlier this month.

His heartbroken father said they were devastated by the loss of their 18-year-old son in a powerful final farewell.

“Charlie, your mother and I love you. We are devastated. That you were taken from us so quickly,” Mr. Stevens said.

“We said you were a force of nature, full of energy, unstoppable. Unforgettable.

“We are heartbroken (but) we can’t think of you without smiling.

“We’ve missed you every day since we said goodbye and we’ll miss you forever, Charlie boy.”

Mr Stevens said his son was “intense and immersed in the things he loved”, including his skateboard and desire for a new car.

Above all, Mr Stevens said it was his son’s friends who meant the most to Charlie and who had supported his family after his death.

“Charlie didn’t care about schoolwork. He just wanted to be with his friends.

‘At school it was all about having fun. he was never sad, never complained. And never dumped on a partner.

‘Charlie’s friends were important to him and there isn’t one we don’t like or respect.

“It means a lot to us that Charlie’s friends have spent so much time with us since we lost him.

“It warmed our hearts that that group of boys was just in our home.” Mr Stevens said his son was known for his big heart. In a letter from a former teacher, he was remembered for his “infectious smile” and sense of humor.

He told the packed crowd that his son was destined to become a tradie, and shared stories of his larrikin ways, from jokes to “cheeky” drinks.

The event was moderated by Adelaide presenter and family friend Tom Rehn, who described Charlie as a “dedicated, hard-working” friend.

Mr Rehn shared stories of Charlie’s final years as a teenager in Adelaide, including moments with his own stepson, Xavier.

‘Charlie was brutal. Most of you are well aware of that,” Mr. Rehn said.

“How many times will he and his little cohort gather in our backyard, listen to music, swim in the pool, talk nonsense and wrestle.

‘One time the wrestling had gone a little too far and unfortunately they had gone through the wall and left a hole.

‘(He said), ‘I’ll fix it. And true to his word. That same week he returned with a colleague to fix things.

“That incident taught me what I think we all knew: he was responsible, responsible. Even at his very young age.”

Charlie’s family issued a heartfelt message of thanks to everyone who contacted them following the tragic death of their beloved son.

In a statement read out by former South Australia Police Deputy Commissioner and close family friend Peter Harvey, the Stevens family said there were “no words” to describe the grief they felt.

“Today we say goodbye to our most precious, wonderful and beautiful Charlie,” the family said.

Crowds of mourners of all ages filled the William Magarey Room at Adelaide Oval, including close friends of Charlie and leaders from South Australia’s political and business communities.

Charlie’s casket sat on a stage at the front of the room, softly lit with lights and covered in blue and white flowers.

“The love and support from family, friends, teammates, school colleagues and so many people across the community are incredible and greatly appreciated.

‘The flowers, cards, phone calls, texts and social media wishes have not stopped and the feeling of total support has helped us to cope with Charlie’s passing as best we can.

‘The support has been fantastic and greatly appreciated. We are overwhelmed and grateful.”

Hundreds gathered at the Adelaide Oval to remember Charlie, who was struck and killed in an alleged accident at Goolwa Beach on November 17. He died the next day, becoming the 101st person to die on SA roads this year.

The Stevens family’s statement asked the public to donate to Operation Flinders in lieu of flowers and also asked people to consider organ donation.

‘Thank you to everyone who has contacted us in one way or another. If we have not yet responded, we will do our best to do so as best as possible and when possible.

‘Now is the time for us to regroup as a family and focus on how we move forward without our special Charlie.

‘Thank you again to everyone for all your kind support and love.’

South Australian Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas announced on Thursday that the government would donate $100,000 to Operation Flinders in honor of Charlie, after his parents asked the public to support the charity in memory of their son.

Operation Flinders runs eight-day programs in the Northern Flinders Ranges for 13 to 18 year olds, with young people walking up to 100km, experiencing indigenous culture, learning abseiling and bushcraft.

Mr Malinauskas said the donation reflected how deeply Charlie’s death had affected South Australians.

“This contribution is a fitting way for us to show our support for Grant, Emma and the Stevens family,” he said.

‘Operation Flinders does important work to improve the lives of young South Australians, and this is a fitting way to honor Charlie.”

David Wark, CEO of Operation Flinders, said the organization was “humbled” by the donation and would work closely with the Stevens family to ensure Charlie’s legacy lived on through the hundreds of other young people Operation Flinders would help.

“We will strive to ensure that Charlie’s legacy is recognized through programs and opportunities that will impact young people who the Stevens family will never meet, which is the ultimate act of generosity,” he said.

The donation comes just hours before hundreds of people are expected to gather at the Adelaide Oval for a twilight service in memory of Charlie.

Charlie’s death has sent shockwaves across the country and cast a sharp torchlight on a brutal year on South Australia’s roads, which is set to be the worst in terms of fatalities in a decade.

In a heartbreaking open letter following Charlie’s death, Mr Stevens and his wife Emma paid tribute to their son, addressing him as ‘101’ and celebrating his life, as they showed that behind every toll statistic lies a full life and a human being many people love it. others.

‘I’m writing this as I sit in a bedroom with dirty clothes on the floor, an unmade bed, six drinking glasses in a row on the bedside table, an empty KFC box next to the glasses, cupboard doors left open and a row of skateboards leaning on the wall – it’s a mess and it’s perfect. 101 lived here,” the parents write.

‘101 is Charles Stevens – Charlie, Charlie Boy, Chas, Links, Steve. You lived life and gave so much to so many. You were a force of nature and we will never forget your beautiful cheeky, disarming smile.”

Mr Malinauskas said he and his wife Annabel shed tears reading the emotional letter.

“Here’s a family that’s grieving, that has every reason to be absolutely devastated and thinking about themselves and how they’re going to get through it, but what they’re doing is thinking about others,” he said as his voice began to break .

“Thinking about how this tragedy could translate into a lesson for everyone else in the community, thinking not only of their son, but also of the other 100 victims who died in the toll.

‘What wonderful people.’

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton read the letter to the House on Tuesday as a tribute to Mr Stevens and his family, after a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“Son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, friend, colleague, teammate, so much more than just a number on a tragic tally,” he read.

The Opposition Leader took a break during his speech and appeared to be in tears as he read the letter in which Mr Stevens referred to his late son as a “lovable ratbag from the moment he could talk”.

Charlie’s death came amid a concentrated tragedy for South Australian police and the wider community.

On November 16, a day before Charlie died at Goolwa Beach, Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig was shot and killed at a property near Bordertown in the state’s south-east.

A police funeral for Brevet Sergeant Doig will take place on December 4.